About this Case:

31 year old Michael Taft was enjoying a summer barbecue at an upscale apartment complex in Greenwood Village, when he had an argument with his girlfriend. Friends said he left on foot at about 1am on June 26, 2006. Police say Taft was crossing Prentice Avenue at Ulster Street, looking for a way to get to his Denver home, when he encountered a group of people. His girlfriend heard their voices in the background, when she called his cell phone from the party. His girlfriend lost the call, but a few minutes later she received a return call from Michael's cell phone. On the other end of the phone, the girlfriend overheard "he's lying in a pool of blood." Before the girlfriend could call 911, she received another call from a different man, using the same cell phone. "We were just teasing," said the voice. "Michael is fine. He's at the Purple Martini." An hour later, a passerby found Michael lying in the turn lane of Prentice Avenue, at the intersection with Ulster Street, a few blocks away from the Purple Martini. He was unconscious from a vicious beating. He was taken to a hospital, where he died a week later. His cell phone was never found. Anyone with information about this case is asked to please contact the Greenwood Village Police Department.

If you have any information about this case, please contact:

Greenwood Village Police Department

Greenwood Village

Colorado